Worried analysis:
I am not so great a soccer enthusiast that I follow the Austrian Bundesliga, so what I know only what I have read (Highlight reels can be taken with a grain of salt). First of all, it looks like Kasper and Co. went with what the fans have been clamoring and what many have interpreted as D.C. United's "tradition," a strong attacking center-mid. Which is good, provided that it was what Coach Onalfo wanted. Someone who knows Curt can ask him, I can't say for certain, but he has, in the beginning of the season, indicated a willingness to play without one. Boskovic sure looks like a pretty decent attacking mid, he scored more than his fair share of goals. That said, I'm not certain that he alone can be the answer. This team has the need of a prolific goal scorer - Boskovic is only prolific for a midfielder (30 in four years at Red Star Belgrade). It is possible that he will make D.C.'s strikers more effective and that has to be the hope, because a player with less than ten goals average per season is not going to drag this team out of it's funk.
Additionally, playing Boskovic as an attacking midfielder pulls a player away from D.C.'s leaky defense. Currently, some combination of Simms, Morsink, or King have been pitching in to the defense. James' form in his last game gives some hope that he can help shore up the back and the return of Jakovic helps a great deal, but that by no means gives D.C. one of the better defenses in the league. I assume that even if Bryan Namoff does recover (and we wish him the very best and do really want him back) tomorrow, I have to assume he will need time to get match fit and recover his form from last year.
Finally, Boskovic is not a high profile acquisition - not to be a total jerk, but Montenegro is a team that loses to the Caucasian powerhouses (read: UEFA jokes) of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Jakovic has been a stellar acquisition from Red Star Belgrade, I make no bones about it. But Boskovic is older than Jakovic and no longer plays for Red Star (but hey, do we have some sort of burgeoning relationship with Red Star Belgrade? Because I would be more than okay with that).
Conclusions:
I have always said that I will give anyone a chance on the field. Team and league dynamics can alter a player's performance and a nobody in a lower league can be a key player in a better league if his team matches better his talents. I was hesitant to even write this post because I feel that most speculation at this point is useless, predictions made that come true are fortune rather than skilled analysis. There is reason to be hopeful for Boskovic, it seems like a good acquisition and, considering that he is a relatively low-priced designated player, he may be an intelligent acquisition in that other players can still be acquired. However, it think it is probably too much to hope for that he is an instant fix for DC's stagnant attack.
Here's the highlight reel provided by D.C. United. I'd apologize for the music, but I didn't make the video. Seriously, I know he's coming from Rapid Wien, but did we need the playlist from a Viennese disco?
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